In 1669, John Prescott was proclaimed a Freeman.  He may have been long a Church member, or may not even at this date have yielded the conscientious scruples that had a quarter of a century earlier subjected him to the reproach of an ecclesiastical oligarchy.  The laws concerning Freemen, in reluctant obedience to the letter of Charles II., were so changed in 1665 that those not Church members could become Freemen, if freeholders of a sufficient estate, and guaranteed by the local minister “to be Orthodox and not vicious in their lives.”  Prescott had the true Englishman’s love of landed possessions, and about this time added a large tract to his acreage by purchase from his Indian neighbors.  This transaction gave cause for the following petition: 

     To the honorable the Gov’r the Deputy Gov’r mag’tr & Deputy es
     assembled in the gen’rall Court: 

The Petition of Jno Prescott of Lanchaster, In most humble wise sheweth.  Whereas ye Petition’r hath purchased an Indian right to a small parcell of Land, occasioned and circumstanced for quantity & quality according to the deed of sale herevnto annexed and a pt. thereof not being legally setled vpon piee vnlesse I may obteyne the favor of this Court for the Confirmation thereof, These are humbly to request the Court’s favor for that end, the Lord hauing dealt graciously with mee in giueing mee many children I account it my duty to endeauor their provission & setling and do hope that this may be of some vse in yt kind.  I know not any claime made to the said land by any towne, or any legall right y’t any other persons haue therein, and therefore are free for mee to occupy & subdue as any other, may I obteyne the Court’s approbation.  I shall not vse further motiues, my condition in other respecks & w’t my trouble & expenses haue been according to my poor ability in my place being not altogether vnknowne to some of ye Court.  That ye Lord’s prsence may be with & his blessing accompany all yo’r psons, Counsells, & endeauors for his honor & ye weale of his poor people is ye pray’r of

     Yo’r supplliant

     JOHN PRESCOTT SEN’R.

This request was referred to a special committee, composed of Edward Tyng, George Corwin and Humphrey Davie, who reported as follows: 

“In Reference to this Petition the Comittee being well informed that the Pet’r is an ancient Planter and hath bin a vseful helpfull and publique spirited man doinge many good offices ffor the Country, Relatinge to the Road to Conecticott, marking trees, directinge of Passengers &c, and that the Land Petitioned for beinge but about 107 Acres & Lyinge not very Convenient for any other Plantation, and only accomoclable for the Pet’r, we judge it reasonable to Confirme the Indian Grant to him & his heyers if ye honored Court see meete.”

This report was approved.  James Wiser alias Quanapaug, the Christian Nashaway Chief, who appears